THIS National Eye Health Week, the team at Specsavers in Manchester Arndale is raising awareness of the UK’s leading cause of preventable sight loss, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
To raise awareness of the disease, a photo booth which stimulates its symptoms will visited the Manchester Arndale Specsavers store for one day only on Thursday, September 27.
The technology, which has been on a tour around the UK as part of an eye health campaign, uses acetate to stimulate AMD, including distorted vision, extra sensitivity to glare and difficulty reading or seeing details in low light levels.
AMD is an irreversible disease which causes a progressive deterioration of vision, typically affecting people aged 60 and above.
According to research, there will be a 9% increase in the number of people at risk of developing the condition in Greater Manchester between 2016 and 2020.
The research, which is supported by Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) reveals that 100,520 people in Greater Manchester are already living with early stages of AMD, while 21,210 people are suffering with late stages of the condition.
Providing Manchester’s residents – young and old – with the opportunity to experience age-related eye conditions through the simulator, expert optometrists from Specsavers were on-hand to help educate about the importance of eye health.
Sophie Castell, Director of Relationships at RNIB, said: ‘With an ageing population that is expected to retire later, more of our national workforce will be impacted by sight loss than ever before. With early detection through regular eye tests followed by timely treatment, sight loss due to AMD can be prevented. We’re really grateful for the support of Specsavers’ staff in Manchester as they take part in their photo booth stimulators to mark National Eye Health Week, and we hope it will encourage more people to prioritise their eye health.’
Peter Dodd, store director at Specsavers Manchester Arndale says: ‘We were thrilled to welcome the photo booth stimulator to our city during this very important awareness week. The sight loss simulator provided Manchester residents with real life insight into living with sight loss and hopefully it will prompt more people to book eye tests for themselves and their family.
‘Since half of all sight loss cases are preventable, it’s important we get the message out that our vision is irreplaceable and deserves care and attention. A routine eye test can be the first step in prevention for sight loss conditions.
‘We hope that by allowing people to see through the eyes of those suffering with AMD, the photo booth experience will act as a stark reminder that our vision should never be taken for granted.’
